Shuttle-actuating mechanism for lock-stitch sewing-machines.



PATENTBD JUNE 9, 1908.

L. F. FALES.

SHUTTLE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOCK STITCH SEW ING MACHINES.

APPLICATION TIL ED OCT. 22,1904.

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PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908. L. F. FALBS. SHUTTLE AOTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOOK STITCH SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 00T- 22.1904.

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LEWIS F. FALES, OF WALPOLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHUTTLE-ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR LOCK-STITCH SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 9, 1908.

Application-filed. October 22, 1904. Serial No. 229,604.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS F. FALns, a citizen of the United States, residing in Walpole, county of Norfolk, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Shuttle-Actuating Mechanism for Lock-Stitch Sewing-Machines, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

The present invention relates to shuttle actuating mechanism for a lock-stitch sewing machine, and is mainly embodied in a novel driving mechanism for the shuttle, the said shuttle traveling in a race-way, and being actuated by a member provided with a rolling portion in contact with the shuttle so that the needle thread can pass readily between the shuttle and the said rolling member after it has been looped around the shuttle thread.

The invention is' particularly applicable to multiple needle machines which are used in stitching a number of parallel rows at one operation, and is further embodied in other features of novelty. In accordance with the invention, the several shuttles are driven from a common shaft which isparallel to the axis around which the shuttles revolve, and provided with a gear for each shuttle intermeshing with a separate gear which carries the actuating member for the shuttle. These separate gears are provided with lateral journals which have bearings in frame members which also sup ort the race-ways for the shuttles, and a l of these parts are arranged so that they can be placed in any desired position longitudinally in assembling the machine, so that machines having needles differently spaced can be built without special designing.

Projecting from the driving gear for each shuttle is the actuating member having a rolling portion which directly engages the shuttle to cause the travel thereof in the race-way, and, in the construction shown, the said rolling members are provided each with a gear meshing with a stationary internal gear so as to be rotated, as they travel, in a direction to carry the thread past the end of the shuttle when the loop of needle-thread is being drawn up.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal view showing a portion of the machine embodying the invention, there being two shuttles shown, one in elevation and one partly in section; Fig.

2 is an end view of one of the shuttles and its driving mechanism with parts broken away and parts shown in section; Fig. 3 is a ver tical section through the work-support showing the shuttle in elevation, and in the position where the loop passes ofi and Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line x of Fig. 1, looking toward the right, and with parts broken away.

As herein shown, the shuttle a is provided with a curved bearing surface (1 adapted to fit in an annular race-way I), the said shuttle having a loop-engaging hook a and a bobbincase a which contains the bobbin and is shown as pivoted at a so that it can be swung out for the insertion of a new bobbin through the end, when the thread has been exhausted.

As herein shown, the race-way b is formed in an annular member b which is secured as by screws 5 to a support 0 which is connected as by bolts 0 with a portion A of the frame of the machine. In the construction shown, the support 0 is provided with a tongue 0 which projects into a slot A in the face of the frame memeber A where the bolts 0 pass through elongated slots in said frame member, so that the member 0 can be placed in any desired position with relation to the frame, it being obvious, therefore, that said members can be placed at any desired distance apart. In accordance with the invention, the shuttle a is driven by a rolling mem ber cl, the periphery of which is arranged to engage a portion a of the said shuttle, and, in the construction shown, the said member (1 is arranged to revolve so as to push the shuttle continuously around the race-way. This construction, however, is not essential,-since it might, in some cases, be desirable to arrange the shuttle to oscillate instead of rotate.

In order to revolve the actuating member (1, the said member is mounted on a gear (1 which is provided with a laterally projecting I journal (i contained in a bearing 0 in the member 0, the said journal at being herein shown as provided with an adjustable raceway to receive anti-friction balls 6. In order to drive the gear LP, the said gear is arranged to mesh with the gear f 2 on the main driving shaft f, the hub f 3 of said gear being splined on the driving shaft f, and, in turn, bearing in a portion 0 of the member 0, the bearing being com leted by means of a strap 0 secured in p ace by means of screws 0 By this construction, if it is desired to change the longitudinal position of the shuttle-race, the position of the driving gearf can be correspondingly changed by simply sliding the same along the shaft f, the said ear being held in position by means of the bo ts 0 when the member a is properly positioned and secured.

While it is essential only, in accordance with the invention, that the member at should be capable of rotation so as to move with the thread as the same passes between it'and the end of the shuttle, it is desirable that the said roller should be positively rotated in the right direction to assist the 1passing of the thread at the time when the 00p has been formed and is being drawn taut. While it is not essential that such rotation should be maintained during the other portion of the travel of the member d, it is of no disadvantage that it should do so, and, in some respects, may be of advantage, and, in the construction shown, the machine is provided with a stationary internal gear intermeshing with a gear d formed on the stud d which constitutes the hub of the member d, the said hub bearing upon a screw d which enters the side of the gear d near the periphery thereof. Thus, during the rotation of the gear (1 the member at is revolved in contact with the end of the shuttle a, so as to push the same around the race-way and, at the same time, the said member d is rotated by the action of the stationary internal gear g, so that when the thread is ready to pass between the end of the shuttle and its actuating member, the rotation of the latter will assist in slipping the thread through. In the construction shown, the member (2 is provided with indentations (Z a short distance apart, thus affording spaces to receive the thread and permitting it to pass through without frictional engagement with either member, this construction, however, not being essential. As best shown in Fig. l, the stationary gear 9 is fastened to the member c by means of screws or pins 9 In order to prevent the shuttle a from jumping forward beyond. the member d, to any material extent, the gear d is also provided with a projection 61 which stands in front of the hook 60 but is separated therefrom a slight distance so as not to interfere with the passage of the thread while the loop is being drawn.

In order that the race-way may afford an adequate support for the shuttle without danger of binding and causing undue friction, one wall of said race-way is formed in a separate piece 5 consisting of a substantially annular plate open at the top to correspond to the needle opening, the said plate projecting beyond the bearing surface of the raceway b, so as to constitute one of the lateral walls of said race-way, and being held in position by means of a spring clam b secured as by a screw 6 to the member In order to vary the size of the-needle opening, and provide the machine with suitable thread-guides for different classes of work without changing the shape of the shuttle-race, the needle-opening at the top of said shuttle race is made reasonably large, and closed more or less by means of plates 6 which can be made of any desired size and shape and secured to the top of the shuttlerace as by screws 6 The shuttle-race is shown as provided with an oil-inlet b, which leads into the race-way, to' lubricate the shuttle, and said race-way is further provided at the bottom with a drain opening, to carry away any superfluous oil and prevent the same from being carried up to the work.

While the construction herein shown and described constitutes a practical embodiment of the invention, it is not intended to limit the invention to such construction, since modifications may obviously be made without departing from the invention.

What I claim is:'

1. In a lock-stitch sewing machine, a shuttle; an annular raceway therefor a gear having a bearing at one side and a lateral projection at the other side, said lateral projection engaging the shuttle; a

rolling member on said projection; means for rotating said gear to produce a revolving movement of said projection; and means for causing the rolling member on said projection to rotate thereon during such revolving movement.

2. In a multiple needle lock stitch sewing machine, a series of shuttles; an annular raceway for each shuttle; .a support for each raceway longitudinally adjustable with relation .to the machine frame; gears bearing in said supports adjacent to said raceways; rolling members connected with and projecting laterally from said gears into said raceways to propel the shuttles therein; a drivin shaft parallel to the axis of the severa gears; and driving gears splined on the shafts and bearing in the supports.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LEWIS F. FALES.

Witnesses:

GEO. A. FALEs, F. T. TIFFANY. 

